Everton were founded as St. Domingo F.C. in 1878 in order that people from the parish of St. Domingo Methodist Church could play a sport outside of the summer months (during which time cricket was played). A year later the club were renamed Everton F.C. after the surrounding area, as people outside the parish wished to participate.

During the first decades of their history, Everton had several different kit colours. The team originally played in blue and white stripes but as new players arriving at the club wore their old team's shirts during matches, confusion soon ensued. It was decided that the shirts would be dyed black, both to save on expenses and to instill a more professional look. The result, however, appeared morbid so a scarlet sash was added.

When the club moved to Goodison Park in 1892, they first played in salmon shirts with blue shorts before switching to ruby shirts with blue trim and dark blue shorts. The famous royal blue jerseys with white shorts were first used in the 1901–02 season.

Everton won their first ever Football League match as they beat Accrington Stanley 2-1 at home (which was then Anfield!) on September 8th 1888.

Everton were the first team to wear the numbers 1-11 on their shirts in a football match. The match was the 1933 FA Cup Final against Manchester City, who wore numbers 12-22. Everton won 3-0, and Dixie Dean was the first ever number 9. Hence, the number 9 shirt has been coveted at Everton ever since!

William Ralph Dean: The first and greatest ever number nine.

The Blues were the first club to install undersoil heating in their stadium and the first club to install a net behind the goalposts and bar.

Everton, along with Tottenham Hotspur, were invited to participate in a tournament in Argentina in 1909 to help encourage the fledgling Argentinian game.

Goodison Park, built in 1892, was the world's first complete purpose-built football ground.

Home.

Goodison Park hosted the 1894 F.A. Cup Final between Notts County and Bolton Wanderers.

The rule that a corner kick had to be passed to another player before the kicker could touch the ball again was enforced after, Everton winger, Sam Chedgzoy dribbled the ball from a corner kick into the area before shooting past a bemused Tottenham ‘keeper in a match at White Hart Lane in 1924.

William Ralph ‘Dixie' Dean scored 60 in 39 games goals during the 1927-28 season. This is a record number of English top flight goals scored by one player in a single season and it still stands today.

Everton's record home attendance came on 18th September 1948 as 78,299 people turned up to watch a 1-1 draw with Liverpool. That game was also the last time that Theo Kelly, Everton's first ever manager, took charge of team affairs. Cliff Britton was installed for the next match, a 4-1 win over Preston a week later!

Goodison Park was of such a high standard in 1966 that it was the only English club ground to host a semi-final in the 1966 World Cup. After playing all their matches at Goodison in 1966, the Brazilian national team were so impressed with the facilities at Everton's Bellefield training ground they took photographs and measurements and copied a similar format back in Brazil.

Franz Beckenbaur (centre) celebrates West Germany's first goal against USSR during their 2-1 win in the 1966 World Cup semi final at Goodison.

Everton were the first English club to appear in European competitions five seasons running (1962-63 to 1966-67).

"We're all goin' on a European tour" Everton's most famous pitch invader, Eddie Kavanagh, gives the local plod the slip during the 1966 FA Cup Final...

...and Brian Labone celebrates with the cup after the game!

Everton are the only club to have played 100 seasons in the top flight and were one of the 12 founding members of the Football League in 1888. They have spent only four seasons outside the highest division since then, the last being in 1953-54. Only Arsenal have had a longer unbroken run in the top flight. During the club's remarkable top flight run, their top three positions have been as follows:

1st: 9 times

2nd: 7 times

3rd: 7 times

Everton is one of an elite group of 7 clubs that has played in every Premiership season, They are: Arsenal, Aston Villa, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur.

Everton are the only founder member of the Football League never to have been relegated below the second level of English football.

Finally, here's one to wind up the Kopites with when they bleat on about their 18 League titles. Everton have held the Division One title longer than any other English team, a record 20 years! The Blues were Champions on the eve of both World Wars and, as a result, held the Divison One title for five seasons between 1914-15 and 1918-19 seasons, and then held it for eight seasons between 1938-39 and 1945-46. No other English club has held the title for eight consecutive years!